(2024-02-16). Tucker Carlson mocks US amid visiting Russia's affordable, clean Moscow grocery store. albawaba.com Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host and outspoken defender of Vladimir Putin, has sparked controversy with his latest video from Moscow, where he is reportedly preparing to interview the Russian president.In the video, Carlson claims that he was "radicalized" by visiting a grocery store in Moscow and finding low prices and abundant food, despite the US sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine."We've been told sanctions on Russia have had a devastating effect on its economy. We visited a grocery store in Moscow and found a very different situation," Carlson says in the video, which he posted on his X…
(2024-02-16). Wednesday 2/28: Virtual Meeting: Local Peace Economy. indybay.org
(2024-02-16). Open-air markets bolster Beijing's street vending economy. ecns.cn Spring Festival decorations such as lanterns and couplets are sold at the Shahe Market on Jan 7."Together, we have located more such markets in the suburbs of Beijing, and I am planning to visit them one by one.""ÄÄ"ÄÄA visitor gets a taste of the market.
(2024-02-16). International experts expect further advances in China | Spring Festival Goes Global. ecns.cn As the world celebrates the coming of the Year of the Dragon, global experts send their greetings."China has made the right kinds of investments for the real economy to prosper," said David Blair, vice president and senior economist at the Center for China and Globalization, in an interview with China News Network. He expects the Chinese economy to grow further over the next decade.
(2024-02-16). International experts expect the Chinese economy to flourish with more technological breakthroughs | Spring Festival Goes Global. ecns.cn As the world celebrates the coming of the Year of the Dragon, global experts send their greetings. Rana Mitter, ST Lee Chair in US-Asia Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School, expects the Chinese economy to prosper in the years to come by opening markets, maintaining regional stability, and deepening cooperation.
(2024-02-16). Defusing The Derivatives Time Bomb: Some Proposed Solutions. popularresistance.org This is a sequel to a Jan. 15 article titled "Casino Capitalism and the Derivatives Market: Time for Another 'Lehman Moment'?", discussing the threat of a 2024 "black swan" event that could pop the derivatives bubble. That bubble is now over ten times the GDP of the world and is so interconnected and fragile that an unanticipated crisis could trigger the collapse not just of the bubble but of the economy. To avoid that result, in the event of the bankruptcy of a major financial institution, derivative claimants are put first in line to grab the assets — not just the deposits of customers but their stocks an…
(2024-02-16). Immigrants do Work that Might Not Otherwise Get Done, Bolstering the US economy. counterpunch.org 
Although Congress is failing to pass laws to restrict the number of migrants arriving in the U.S., a majority of Americans — about 6 in 10 — believe there's an immigration crisis along the Mexico-U.S. border. Politicians who want fewer people to move here often cast those arriving without prior authorization as a burden on
(2024-02-16). Why the US Is Reimposing Sanctions on Venezuela. dissidentvoice.org Even the US business magazine Forbes expressed surprise at the reimposition of US sanctions on Venezuela's gold sales and its threat to do the same with oil. The oil sanctions especially, if reinstated, would precipitate higher gas prices and further debilitate the Venezuelan economy, forcing more people to leave the country out of economic necessity. …
(2024-02-15). Ecuador ratifies free trade agreement with China. america.cgtn.com 
This month, Ecuador became the fourth Latin American country to ratify a free trade agreement with China. | Ecuador's National Assembly approved the deal, marking a significant milestone in the country's economy. | CGTN correspondent Nicolás Suárez reports on what this agreement means for Ecuador's trade relations.
(2024-02-15). Will Valentine's Day spending help boost the U.S. economy? america.cgtn.com 
The National Retail Federation predicts that consumer spending for Valentine's Day in the U.S. will reach nearly $26 billion when all the data for this year is in. | Meantime, inflation remains high and retail sales for last month dipped in what could be seen as a danger sign for the economy.
(2024-02-15). What Was COVID Really About? Triggering A Multi-Trillion Dollar Global Debt Crisis. "Ramping up an Imperialist Strategy"? globalresearch.ca If it was indeed about public health, why close down the bulk of health services and the global economy knowing full well what the implications would be? And why mount a military-style propaganda campaign to censor world-renowned scientists and terrorise entire populations…
(2024-02-15). Open-air markets bolster Beijing's street vending economy. ecns.cn Spring Festival decorations such as lanterns and couplets are sold at the Shahe Market on Jan 7."Together, we have located more such markets in the suburbs of Beijing, and I am planning to visit them one by one.""ÄÄ"ÄÄA visitor gets a taste of the market.
(2024-02-15). International experts expect further advances in China | Spring Festival Goes Global. ecns.cn As the world celebrates the coming of the Year of the Dragon, global experts send their greetings."China has made the right kinds of investments for the real economy to prosper," said David Blair, vice president and senior economist at the Center for China and Globalization, in an interview with China News Network. He expects the Chinese economy to grow further over the next decade.
(2024-02-15). International experts expect the Chinese economy to flourish with more technological breakthroughs | Spring Festival Goes Global. ecns.cn As the world celebrates the coming of the Year of the Dragon, global experts send their greetings. Rana Mitter, ST Lee Chair in US-Asia Relations at the Harvard Kennedy School, expects the Chinese economy to prosper in the years to come by opening markets, maintaining regional stability, and deepening cooperation.
(2024-02-15). Did Wall Street Just End the Class War? scheerpost.com 
By Les Leopold / Substack All workers can become capitalists, all workers can become rich! That's the future of the economy according to the infamous Wall Street buyout firm, KKR, (formerly Kohlberg Kravis, Roberts & Co.) Today, KKR says that the iron laws of capitalism don't have to pit workers against bosses. They claim …
(2024-02-16). UK falls into recession in huge blow to PM Sunak. presstv.ir Britain's economy fell into a recession, a tough backdrop ahead of election for PM Rishi Sunak .
(2024-02-17). Correspondence] Economic crises and cancer care in Pakistan—timely action saves lives. thelancet.com Cancer treatment is often ignored during economic crises; Sri Lankans are still striving to stabilise their health-care system.1 Currently, the health systems in low-income and middle-income countries are least prepared to operate independently in emergencies and combat global cancer inequities. Alarmingly, in Pakistan, political turmoil has contributed to a catastrophic decline in the economy and looming bankruptcy.2 Being the world's fifth most populous country (with a population of >232 million people), due to depleting reserves, rising inflation, and calamitous recent floods, the value of currency in Pakis…
(2024-02-16). Insights丨Former official of WEF: China's economic shift promising through sustainable development. ecns.cn Claude Smadja, Former Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, noted during an exclusive interview with China News Network that China has achieved tremendous progress in many areas including artificial intelligence, e-commerce, and electric cars.
(2024-02-15). House Passes Bill To Work Against Countries Normalizing With Syria. news.antiwar.com On Wednesday, the House passed a bill that prohibits the US from opening diplomatic relations with the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad and expands harsh sanctions on Syria to prevent other countries from normalizing with Syria. The Assad Regime Anti-Normalization Act passed in a vote of 389-32, demonstrating broad bipartisan support for the economic war against …
(2024-02-15). Insights丨Former official of WEF: China's economic shift promising through sustainable development. ecns.cn Claude Smadja, Former Managing Director of the World Economic Forum, noted during an exclusive interview with China News Network that China has achieved tremendous progress in many areas including artificial intelligence, e-commerce, and electric cars.
(2024-02-15). THE NARCISSISTIC WESTERN ELITES: AN OPERATIONS MANUAL. sonar21.com 
all-nazi-scum | The last few years have been years of miscalculation for the West. Big things have been planned and put into action, and failed. All the wars, all the sanctions, all domestic and economic 'initiatives', and all responses to what the adversaries have done are failing or have already failed. In fact, the failure of any venture by the West has become almost guaranteed. This has a lot of people scratching their heads — they simply can't fathom how this can happen. | At the same time the real goals of the western political class have come under increased scrutiny. Everything they do seems to b…
(2024-02-15). British media demands continued support for Ukraine despite domestic economic pains. infobrics.org UK will face long-term cost of Brexit, warns Goldman Sachs.
(2024-02-15). The Economics Teacher of the New Generation: Cryptocurrency Ideology. mronline.org 
The widespread ownership of crypto currencies in countries like Turkey and Argentina has created the grounds for a very reactionary economic understanding among broad social segments, especially among young people.
(2024-02-15). Parliament prepares to host National Budget Speech. sanews.gov.za Parliament prepares to host National Budget Speech | Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will outline all the financial, economic, and social commitments that government will prioritise in its planned expenditure during the National Budget Speech next week. | Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered the 2024 State of the Nation Address (SONA) and outlined national government's plans to tackle the country's energy crisis and other socio-economic challenges. | "The Budget Speech, among others, aims to balance economic growth and support for the vulnerable in our society, despite limited resources. Godongwana wi…
(2024-02-15). Yemen: Sustaining polio investments offers a high return. reliefweb.int Countries: Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Yemen | Source: World Health Organization | 15 February 2024 | A Economic and social benefits totaling an estimated US$ 289.2 billion arise from sustaining polio assets and integrating them into expanded immunization, surveillance and emergency response programmes in 8 countries…
(2024-02-16). ECLAC launches Observatory to support digital development processes. plenglish.com Santiago, Chile, Feb 16 (Prensa Latina) The Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) virtually launched the Digital Development Observatory (ODD) in Chile on Thursday to measure the progress of countries in the use of modern technologies.
(2024-02-16). Panamanian reports exodos of students from private to public sector. plenglish.com Panama, Feb 16 (Prensa Latina) Reports from Panama's Ministry of Education (Meduca) confirm the growing exodus of students from private schools to the public sector, mainly due to economic factors.
(2024-02-16). Here's how they are forcing us to stay prisoners in our homes. expose-news.com In his 2023 book 'They want your money and your life', Dr. Vernon Coleman offers an in-depth analysis of the economic and social chaos which now faces every nation and every citizen. …
(2024-02-16). Mounting economic problems for Chinese government. wsws.org This year's National People's Congress will be particularly significant because the Xi Jinping regime confronts a worsening economic situation with no sign of a turnaround in sight.
(2024-02-15). Russia's Novatek Sets up China Office to Market Gas Amid Sanctions. infobrics.org Russian natural gas producer Novatek is building a new China-based team to explore marketing the fuel, sources familiar with the plans said, as U.S. sanctions thwart plans for exports from its new multi-billion dollar Arctic project. The move illustrates Russian energy companies' continued pivot to Asia, especially China, after the Ukraine conflict cut off their access to markets in Europe…
(2024-02-15). Saturday 3/2: Sacramento: March & Rally for Voting Rights, Poverty Justice, Living Wage & More w/ CA PPC. indybay.org California State Capitol – West Steps | 1128 L Street | Sacramento, CA 95814…
(2024-02-15). Fighting fragility: Helping half a million girls stay in school in Mozambique. reliefweb.int Country: Mozambique | Source: World Bank | Empowering girls and women is key to creating inclusive societies and reducing poverty. This is critically important in a fragile setting like Mozambique, where conflict, climate shocks, widespread gender-based violence, and high rates of child marriage and early pregnancies place an extreme burden on women and girls and, thus, on families. | Ana António (name changed for privacy), a girl from Northern Mozambique, had all the odds stacked against her. Married at the age of 13, she had to leave school, only to be abandoned by her husband with a baby in her arms shortly…
(2024-02-15). Eskom load limiting project moves to Eastern Cape town. sanews.gov.za Eskom load limiting project moves to Eastern Cape town | State power utility Eskom says it will be going live with the piloting of load limiting at Bedford in the Eastern Cape. | This comes after the successful implementation of the project in another Eastern Cape town, Adelaide. | Eskom Cape Coastal Cluster General Manager Mbulelo Yedwa said: "Electricity load limiting through smart meters is being implemented to better balance the supply and demand of electricity on the grid during Stages 1 to 4 of load shedding allowing customers to continue to use essential appliances with the capacity of up to 10 Amperes."
(2024-02-15). Poor and Low-Income Voters Are a Sleeping Giant. scheerpost.com 
(2024-02-15). World Cancer Day: Making a commitment to close the cancer care gap. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) recognizes World Cancer Day annually on February 4. The UICC's 2024 theme for World Cancer Day is "Close the Care Gap." The care gap is the gap between people who can obtain healthcare related to the prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer and those who cannot. The factors that create this gap include income, education and geographical location barriers. Discrimination based on ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, age,…
(2024-02-17). Correspondence] Small vulnerable newborns in Nepal: the need for data. thelancet.com The Lancet Series on small vulnerable newborns (SVNs) highlights a key issue in Nepal and across low-income and middle-income countries: the inconsistent data impede the ability of health systems to deliver care proactively and proportionately. We would like to share the complexities of the current system in Nepal and suggested solutions.
(2024-02-16). World Cancer Day: Making a commitment to close the cancer care gap. newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) recognizes World Cancer Day annually on February 4. The UICC's 2024 theme for World Cancer Day is "Close the Care Gap." The care gap is the gap between people who can obtain healthcare related to the prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer and those who cannot. The factors that create this gap include income, education and geographical location barriers. Discrimination based on ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, age,…
(2024-02-15). Winston Peters, a Great Political Survivor, Political Chameleon and Most Loyal Servant of the U.S. Empire, is Back in Power in New Zealand. covertactionmagazine.com And Surprise, Surprise: He's Pushing for New Zealand to Join AUKUS, an Anti-China Military Security Partnership of the U.S., Australia and Great Britain New Zealand held its triennial general election in October 2023 and the result was what had been predicted by the polls all along—the Labour Party, which had been in power since 2017, …
(2024-02-15). Winston Peters, a Great Political Survivor, Political Chameleon and Most Loyal Servant of the U.S. Empire, is Back in Power in Zew Zealand. covertactionmagazine.com And Surprise, Surprise: He's Pushing for New Zealand to Join AUKUS, an Anti-China Military Security Partnership of the U.S., Australia and Great Britain New Zealand held its triennial general election in October 2023 and the result was what had been predicted by the polls all along—the Labour Party, which had been in power since 2017, …
(2024-02-15). Muslims abandon UK Labour over "deeply offensive" Gaza position. electronicintifada.net Party stifles criticism of its pro-Israel stance.
(2024-02-16). Health workers prominent at Australian protests against Gaza genocide: "I'd never vote Labor again" wsws.org "They're not all that different from the Liberal Party. Labor has become a non-labour party."
(2024-02-16). Forget Elections. Build Your Union. inthesetimes.com
(2024-02-16). Pilots Got Their Payday; Now Flight Attendants Push For Higher Wages. popularresistance.org Airline pilots won pay raises worth billions of dollars in new labor deals last year. Flight attendants are now pushing for similar improvements. | Flight attendants from United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Alaska Airlines and others picketed Tuesday at dozens of airports around the U.S., demanding higher wages and a better quality of life. | "We have been in a period of austerity for 20 years, and it's time the industry paid up," said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents cabin crews at United, Spirit, Frontier and others. | The demonstrations ma…
(2024-02-16). The AFL-CIO Can Be Reformed, Locally And From The Bottom-Up! popularresistance.org Changing the leadership, structure, or functioning of any U.S. labor organization is no easy task. Activists and experts have long argued about whether dysfunctional unions are best reformed from the top-down, bottom-up, or some mix of the two approaches. | For the past 65 years, the main locus of union democracy and reform struggles in the U.S. has been local unions, which hold leadership elections every three years and are closest to the membership. Thousands of rank-and-file workers have campaigned for more militant unionism by running for and winning local office. | Some have had the backing of national netwo…
(2024-02-16). The AFL-CIO can be Reformed, Locally and from the Bottom-Up! counterpunch.org 
Changing the leadership, structure, or functioning of any U.S. labor organization is no easy task. Activists and experts have long argued about whether dysfunctional unions are best reformed from the top-down, bottom up, or some mix of the two approaches. For the past 65 years, the main locus of union democracy and reform struggles in the
(2024-02-16). Sunday 3/10: Fred Glass "California Labor: Yesterday & Today" indybay.org 1187 Franklin Street, San Francisco CA 94109 | Join Zoom Meeting | zoom.us/j/91759639495?pwd=ZkViMWRyblZpRS8rTjdYSjBOTVQ2dz09…
(2024-02-15). Microsoft, OpenAI expose hackers using ChatGPT. albawaba.com ALBAWABA — OpenAI has said in a blogpost that in collaboration with Microsoft, they were able to identify and block five threat groups backed by nations that have been found to be using their Large Language Models in malicious activities such as preparing Phishing Scams, translating technical papers and writing and debugging potentially harmful codes.Through cooperation and information exchange with Microsoft, OpenAI says they were able to take down five malicious actors with ties to states: two threat actors from China, identified as Charcoal Typhoon and Salmon Typhoon; Crimson Sandstorm from Iran; Emerald…
(2024-02-15). Ariana Grande and Mariah Carey team up for 'Yes, And?' remix out this Friday. albawaba.com Fans of pop divas Ariana Grande and Mariah Carey are in for a treat this Friday, as the two singers have announced a remix of Grande's hit song 'Yes, And?' featuring Carey's vocals.The remix, which will be released on February 16, 2024, is a collaboration between the two vocal powerhouses, who have often been compared and praised for their impressive vocal ranges and whistle tones.Grande announced the remix on her Instagram account, posting a photo of herself and Carey in the studio, with the caption: "Dreams do come true. I can't wait for you to hear this. Thank you @mariahcarey for blessing me with your voice a…
(2024-02-15). Labor's council demerge bill a 'sleight of hand'. greenleft.org.au 
(2024-02-15). Contract Faculty Wrest Neutrality From New York University. popularresistance.org Contingent professors scored a victory January 3 when they got New York University to agree to a union election this semester, and to remain neutral during the process. The election is scheduled for February 27 and 28. If they vote yes, Contract Faculty United (CFU)-UAW Local 7902 will become the largest union in the country of full-time, non-tenure-track faculty at a private university, with 950 members. | Nationwide, two-thirds of faculty positions are contingent—meaning they lack the possibility of tenure. Many are adjunct instructors, who are hired on a course-by-course, semester-by-semester basis and t…
(2024-02-15). Flight Attendants Rally Globally To Demand Living Wages & Contract For 100,000 Workers. indybay.org Hundreds of flight attendants from all major unions rallied globally on February 13, 2023. At SFO they marched and spoke out abut their struggle for living wages. While the airlines are making billions they have taken pay cuts.
(2024-02-15). Otorgan Orden de la Solidaridad a embajadora de Cuba en Cambodia. radiohc.cu Phnom Penh, 15 feb (RHC) La embajadora de Cuba en Cambodia, Liurka Rodríguez Barrios, recibió hoy aquí, la Orden de la Solidaridad en Grado de Gran Oficial, concedido por el rey de Cambodia, Norodom Sihamoni, como reconocimiento a su encomiable labor en pos de fortalecer los lazos de amistad y cooperación.
(2024-02-15). How Target Funded A 'Tough On Crime' Prosecutor's Office. popularresistance.org Target Corp. pioneered the Community Prosecution Program in the Hennepin County Attorney's Office (HCAO) more than two decades ago during the era of mass incarceration. As part of a broad anti-crime campaign that employed new advanced technology and reshaped the criminal justice system in Minneapolis, the program had particularly devastating effects on Black residents. In 2004, a public-private partnership consisting of Target, the Downtown Council, Hennepin County, and the City of Minneapolis launched a sweeping surveillance collaborative in downtown Minneapolis called the SafeZone, as illustrated throughout Uni…
(2024-02-15). McCarthyism takes over the U.S. labor movement. peoplesworld.org 
This article is part of the People's World 100th Anniversary Series On Feb. 15, 1950, McCarthyism took over the Congress of Industrial Organizations, as the federation's right-wing leadership caved to pressure from the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and initiated a wave of expulsion of left-led unions. The expelled unions were all charged with being controlled …
(2024-02-15). Venezuela Supports Trinidad & Tobago in Controlling Oil Spill. telesurenglish.net On Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Yvan Gil announced that Venezuela is willing to collaborate with Trinidad and Tobago in controlling the serious oil spill that has affected the coasts of this island nation and involves at least two vessels. | RELATED: | "We are at the disposal of the government of Trinidad and Tobago to cooperate in whatever is required," he said, adding that Venezuelan technicians have held me…
(2024-02-16). Flight Attendants Rally Globally To Demand Living Wages & Contract For 100,000 Workers. indybay.org Hundreds of flight attendants from all major unions rallied globally on February 13, 2023. At SFO they marched and spoke out abut their struggle for living wages. While the airlines are making billions they have taken pay cuts.
(2024-02-16). On Verdi: Lufthansa's "house union" wsws.org In the current contract negotiations with Lufthansa, the warning strikes organised by Verdi have been organized to "blow off steam" to provide space for their collaboration with management to continue undisturbed.
(2024-02-15). Development of a flood index insurance product for Zambia. reliefweb.int 
Country: Zambia | Source: CGIAR | Please refer to the attached file. | Abstract/Description | Weather Risk Management Services Pvt Ltd (WRMS) is collaborating with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) as part of the CGIAR Initiative on Climate Resilience (ClimBeR) to develop financial solutions for post-extreme climatic events. The focus is on creating parametric insurance solutions to aid vulnerable populations in managing and mitigating loss and damage caused by natural disasters, with a primary emphasis on floods. | The project's scope involves a comprehensive approach to enhance community…
(2024-02-16). Greek Farmers Continue Their Protest. popularresistance.org The protesting farmers in Greece decided to continue their agitations across the country with demands such as duty-free agricultural diesel, reduced electricity costs, and subsidies on supplies and animal feed, as negotiations with the government on February 13 yielded no results. A week-long protest, including rallies and blockades in major motorways across Greece, forced the New Democracy (ND) government to call the farmers' groups for negotiations on Tuesday. | The farmer's unions rejected the meager concessions on electricity prices offered by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. They demanded effective measur…
(2024-02-16). Drug Prices Should be Controlled. counterpunch.org 
Pharmaceutical companies are angry with Bernie Sanders. The Vermont senator has vowed to force pharma CEOs to publicly answer for why their drug prices are so much higher in the United States than in other nations. Brazenly, the CEOs of Johnson & Johnson and Merck initially refused. An attorney for Johnson & Johnson accused the senator of
(2024-02-16). Indian police fire tear gas at farmers as protests enter 4th day. presstv.ir Indian police fired tear gas at farmers demanding higher prices for their crops on Friday, as the protests entered their fourth day…
(2024-02-16). SA records an increase in research and development expenditure after COVID-19. sanews.gov.za SA records an increase in research and development expenditure after COVID-19 | Gross domestic expenditure on research and development (GERD) has increased in real terms for the first time in four years. | GERD as a percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached 0.62% in 2021/22, up from 0.60% in the previous year, indicating a slight improvement in research and development (R&D) intensity. | This represents a 6.9% year-on-year increase from R25.965 billion in 2020/21 to R27.756 billion in 2021/22, in terms of 2015 prices. | This is according to the latest South African National Survey of Research and Exp…
(2024-02-16). Horoscope Today, February 17, 2024. albawaba.com 
ALBAWABA Today's horoscope, February 17, 2024, offers insights into the cosmic energies influencing each zodiac sign, guiding individuals through their day with clarity and foresight.Horoscope Today Saturday, February 17, 2024Aries (March 21 – April 19): | Your dynamic energy is on full display today, Aries. Channel this vitality into your projects and pursuits, but be mindful not to overlook important details. Stay focused to make the most of the opportunities that come your way.Taurus (April 20 – May 20): | Financial matters may require your attention today, Taurus. Take a practical approach to budgeting and lo…
(2024-02-16). Why the Marshall Plan ? cadtm.org In July 2024, the World Bank and the IMF will be 80 years old. 80 years of financial neo-colonialism and the imposition of austerity policies in the name of debt repayment. 80 years is enough! The Bretton Woods institutions must be abolished and replaced by democratic institutions serving an ecological, feminist and anti-racist bifurcation. To mark these 80 years, we are republishing a series of articles every Wednesday until July, looking in detail at the history and damage caused by these (…) | – | / |
(2024-02-15). Americans deserve fairer social security taxes. mronline.org 
Social Security has been a financial rock for seniors ever since benefits first began flowing in 1940.
(2024-02-15). Why the Marshall Plan ? cadtm.org In July 2024, the World Bank and the IMF will be 80 years old. 80 years of financial neo-colonialism and the imposition of austerity policies in the name of debt repayment. 80 years is enough! The Bretton Woods institutions must be abolished and replaced by democratic institutions serving an ecological, feminist and anti-racist bifurcation. To mark these 80 years, we are republishing a series of articles every Wednesday until July, looking in detail at the history and damage caused by these (…) | – | / |
(2024-02-15). NATO and EU respond to Trump's warning. albawaba.com ALBAWABA – NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has reacted to former US President Donald Trump's remarks, cautioning that allies failing to meet their financial commitments to NATO might not be defended in the event of a Russian attack.Stoltenberg, in an interview with Norwegian TV channel TV2, stated, "Any suggestion that allies won't support each other would harm our security. Regardless of the presidential election outcome, I expect the US to remain a strong and loyal NATO ally."The EU also voiced its concerns over Trump's comments. European Council President Charles Michel, in a message on his X account,…
(2024-02-15). Inflation is Increasing in America. Latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) Report: The 'Soft Landing' Plane Is Still Circling. globalresearch.ca
(2024-02-16). House Intelligence Committee chair sparks uproar over Russian "space weapons" wsws.org It is not clear whether Republican Mike Turner intended to pressure House Republicans to approve $60 billion in new spending on the war against Russia in Ukraine, or simply to stoke public fears like last year's "China balloon" scare.
(2024-02-16). Talking to the left. indybay.org Developing a common transformational project and building counter-power remains the central task of the left. Especially in areas of social infrastructure, such as housing and healthcare, profit maximization has a particularly devastating effect. The strategy of socialization, i.e. the transfer of private property into democratic structures, can provide orientation here.
(2024-02-15). House GOP Defends Fossil Gas Exports as Industry Profits at Consumers' Expense. truthout.org House Republicans backed by the oil and gas lobby advanced legislation on Wednesday that would end the Biden administration's "pause" on permit approvals for new liquified natural gas (LNG) export terminals by declaring all sales of domestically produced fuel overseas to be "in the public interest" despite rising costs to consumers. Following pressure from climate activists and frontline… |
(2024-02-16). Stellantis made $20 billion in 2023, as media reports temps will get no profit-sharing checks under UAW deal. wsws.org The record profits reported by Stellantis come straight off the backs of workers, who have been greeeted by a wave of layoffs in 2024.
(2024-02-16). South Africa's failed infrastructure privatisation and deregulation. cadtm.org Introduction
| The South African state is commonly said to be 'failing' — not only because yet again at the end of 2023, a recession hit. An alleged fiscal crisis, in the form of a public debt to GDP ratio in excess of 70 percent (mostly due to Covid-19 revenue shrinkage), prevents the kind of institutional rescue and expansion of infrastructure and services typical of prior eras of developmental- or welfare-state construction.
| A typical articulation of the terrain of infrastructure financing (…) | – |
(2024-02-16). AT&T Landlines Under Immediate Threat in California. indybay.org he California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is considering a formal request by AT&T to eliminate Carrier of Last Resort (COLR) regulations that require the company to provide landline telephone service to customers in its service area. Such a move would likely mean the end of the traditional telephone network for most residents in California, a controversial policy opposed by many consumer and safety groups, who say such a move is preposterous and that landlines are needed now more than ever, as climate emergencies worsen and the digital divide grows wider.
(2024-02-15). South Africa's failed infrastructure privatisation and deregulation. cadtm.org Introduction
| The South African state is commonly said to be 'failing' — not only because yet again at the end of 2023, a recession hit. An alleged fiscal crisis, in the form of a public debt to GDP ratio in excess of 70 percent (mostly due to Covid-19 revenue shrinkage), prevents the kind of institutional rescue and expansion of infrastructure and services typical of prior eras of developmental- or welfare-state construction.
| A typical articulation of the terrain of infrastructure financing (…) | – |
(2024-02-15). Brazil to support stricter global regulation of infant formula marketing. peoplesdispatch.org Despite strong national policies supporting breastfeeding, Brazil faces challenges from infant formula producers seeking to dominate the field of child nutrition. One forthcoming step is to support a WHO resolution for regulating digital marketing…
(2024-02-16). Capitalism and drug trafficking in Ecuador: Two sides of the same coin. cadtm.org
(2024-02-15). Capitalism and drug trafficking in Ecuador: Two sides of the same coin. cadtm.org
(2024-02-15). Fatal Flaws Undermine America's Defense Industrial Base. thealtworld.com The first-ever US Department of Defense The report lays out a multitude of problems plaguing the US DIB including a lack of surge capacity, inadequate workforce, off-shore downstream suppliers, as well as insufficient "demand signals" to motivate private industry partners to produce what's needed, in the quanti…
(2024-02-15). Elon Musk refuses to comply with Judge's order to testify. albawaba.com ALBAWABA – A federal judge has ordered Elon Musk to testify again about his purchase of "X" (formerly Twitter), giving both Musk and the SEC a week to agree on when and where the interview will happen.The judge's order, issued last night, makes official a previous ruling from December favoring the SEC.A judge told Elon Musk he has to talk to investigators about his $44 billion deal to buy Twitter. The judge gave them a week to agree on when and where to meet.This comes after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued Musk. They want him to explain his purchase of Twitter, which he renamed "X" later.Mu…
(2024-02-15). Argentina is NOT for sale! Argentinians rise up against Milei's neoliberal plunder. liberationnews.org 
Like all far-right populists, Milei came to power on a platform of brash, inflammatory rhetoric, culture war talking points, and vague anti-government policies.
(2024-02-15). US Senate wants to codify 'Ukraine aid' by making it impeachable offense. infobrics.org While the DNC will have a very difficult task pushing the bill's adoption by the House, if they succeed, the so-called "Ukraine aid" would effectively be codified and even made into an impeachable offense. This is extremely important for the neoliberal and neocon warmongers in Washington DC as it would force any future president to comply with the bill. This can be seen as a way of using the system to ensure that Democrats' decisions are not legally overturned by any future potentially non-DNC administration.
(2024-02-16). Ukraine: 'Two years after the invasion, normalisation of war has led to a return of politics'. greenleft.org.au 
Green Left's Federico Fuentes interviewed Viktoriia Pihul , a council member of Ukrainian democratic socialist organisation Social Movement, regarding the situation in Ukraine two years after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.
(2024-02-15). Enabling Genocide: Trudeau, Joly and Poilievre. socialistproject.ca 
On December 29, 2023, the government of South Africa filed
(2024-02-15). Avanzan Cuba y Bolivia en el fortalecimiento de sus nexos. radiohc.cu La visita a La Habana de la ministra de Relaciones Exteriores de Bolivia, Celinda Sosa Lunda, reafirmó el buen estado de las relaciones existentes entre las dos naciones, retomadas con fuerza tras el retorno al poder del MàÅS, Movimiento al Socialismo, y que se habían interrumpido tras el golpe de estado de 2019 contra el entonces presidente Evo Morales.